UK Point-to-Point Round Up - 18th April

Seven UK point-to-points took place over the weekend with 19 former Irish pointers gaining success for their new connections.

Saturday 14th April

Hornby Castle, Yorkshire

SPOTLIGHT HORSE: Shantou Prince

The nine-year-old recorded his seventh UK point-to-point success when he took the hunt members race by nine lengths for the Gill Walford yard.

Formerly trained by Michael Smiddy where he was unplaced in four Irish pointing starts, Shantou Prince’s most recent success up to Saturday was at Askham last February.

Matts Commission, unplaced in three starts last spring for John Halley, took his second consecutive UK Point-to-point of the season when he ran out an eight length winner of the restricted race in the hands of Jack Teal who also trains the five-year-old.

The winner of the Club member’s race on the day was the former Bandon and Cloyne winner Iron Chancellor for the handler and rider combination of Jessica Bedi.

High Easter, Essex

SPOTLIGHT HORSE: Law Of Gold

Law Of Gold got off the mark in UK point-to-points on his second time of asking when he was the three length winner of the open maiden and in doing so provided his handler David Kemp with a double on the day.

The son of Gold Well had been bought for €32,000 at the Goffs Landrover sale and his latest Irish point-to-point run came at Tralee last May for Sean Doyle when he was third behind Another Barney.

The seven-year-old Keel Over registered his third UK point-to-point success from four starts this season when he won the Intermediate race for his new handler, Michael Kehoe. The son of Gamut had been under the care of Cormac Doyle, with his most recent run being at Aghabullogue on the 07th January where he was second to Emerald Chieftain having also finished third at Mainstown in December.

Former Seamus Neville-trained Caryto Des Brosses took the club members race by eight lengths having lost his maiden tag at Charing in February for his new handler, David Kemp.

Excitable Island, another former charge of Seamus Neville where he was third on three starts in 2012 and 2013 recorded his first success of the season which was also the 11-year-olds eight UK point-to-point win of his career to date for his handler and owner, Nigel Padfield.

Don’t Do Mondays, a former five-time track winner, took the ladies open under Louise Burnell for Elizabeth Lawson.

Hereford Racecourse, Herefordshire

SPOTLIGHT HORSE: Stay Out of Court

Stay Out Of Court got off the mark on his second start in UK points when he won the open maiden by a head over the former Michael Goff-trained Tomoroz Man. The seven-year-old had been placed in four track runs for David Pipe last season.

The son of Court Cave was runner-up on two Irish point-to-point appearnces for the John Paul Brennan yard with his latest run being at Taylorstown two years ago behind Agent Boru who won the Grade B handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse on Tuesday.

Big Georgie secured his first success in over two years when he returned home the three quarters of a length winner of the restricted race in the hands of trainer James Ridley. This was the former Lingstown runner-ups’ sixth UK pointing success.
 

Bishops Court, Devon

Ann Maries Reject who failed to complete in two Irish point-to-point starts for Gerard Hussey, gained her first success in the UK scene when she won the open maiden for her new handler Christine Gray.

The daughter of Sendawar stepped up from her initial appearance where she finished runner-up at Ston Easton on the 25th March having previously been unplaced on the track in 11 starts during 2016 and 2017.

Sunday 15th April

Andoversford, Gloucestershire

SPOTLIGHT HORSE: Risky Gold

Risky Gold (pictured) opened his account on the first time of asking with a decisive 12 length win in the open maiden.

Out of the Grade three placed Ask Me Sister, Risky Gold was runner-up to Danny Kirwan in the four-year-old maiden at Lisronagh in October for the Colin Bowe yard before being subsequently sold for £38,000 at the Tattersalls Ireland Cheltenham November sale to his current handler, Fergal O’Brien.

William Money, who was a winner at Tramore for Colin Bowe in 2011, took the mens open race for David Brace and has shown to be a consistent servant for his new connections having not finished out of the first four on his seven starts this season.

Minella Friend who was a winner at Dromahane and also at Sligo in a Bumper for John Nallen in 2013, won the club members race for Kim Smyly.

Skyhill Allstar claimed his second consecutive success this season when he dead heated in the restricted race.
 

Godstone, Surrey

Glint Of Steel, who was runner-up on three occasions in Irish point-to-points for Dermot Day in 2012 took his 10th UK point when he won the conditions race for the Cynthia Woods yard which was the 12-year-olds first success in over two years.
 

Lydstep, Dyfed

SPOTLIGHT HORSE: Hold Court

Hold Court registered his second success of the month at Lydstep when he won the conditions race for Mary Evans. The 11-year-old was runner-up on his only start in Irish point-to-points at Athlacca in a four-year-old maiden for Philip Fenton.

Full Print, a winner at Dromahane three years ago for Daniel Murphy, was runner-up at Lydstep two weeks previously and went one better to win the restricted race for Robert Luke.
Also scoring at Lydstep was Darwin Dancer in the maiden conditions for Luke Price. The now seven-year-old was third at Tinahely in February 2017 for Don Cashman.